10.15 pm, Thursday May 24 2012

Chopper crash claims Sanctum writer

14:56 AEDT Sun Feb 5 2012
By ninemsn staff
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Sanctum writer/producer Andrew Wight (AAP)
Sanctum writer/producer Andrew Wight (AAP)

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It has been revealed that one of the men who died in yesterday's chopper crash on the New South Wales south coast was one of Australia's most successful writer-producers.

Andrew Wight, 51, who wrote and produced the 3D film Sanctum, which grossed over $100 million, was flying a helicopter with film maker Mike DeGruy when their chopper crashed near Nowra, killing both men.

It is believed the pair was working on a documentary about Papua New Guinea.

Wight had only three weeks ago assumed the role of general manager for the Melbourne office of Avatar director James Cameron's 3D production company, Cameron Pace.

His colleague DrGruy, 60, was a specialist underwater photographer.

Wight, a keen helicopter pilot, married for the first time at 50 and became a father for the first time about a year ago.

His screenplay for Sanctum was based on a near-death experience while tunneling in the 3.2-kilometre-long Pannikin Plains cave system beneath the Nullarbor Plain in 1988.

In 1989 he produced a documentary about his experience entitled Nullabor Dreaming.

Wight was also reportedly involved in developing the 3D technology Cameron used in Oscar-winner Avatar.

A close friend of the late producer said he had been "James Cameron's right-hand man for years".

 

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